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C. J. KELLY.

BANJO.

No. 487,604. Patented Sept. 30, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT j OFFICE.

OI'IARLES J. KELLY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

BANJO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Noo 437,604, dated September 30, 1890.

Application filed February I3, 1890. Serial No. 340,354. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. KELLY, of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and Improved Banjo, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in banjos, and its object is to provide a simple and positive means of attaching the head, strings, and tail-piece to a banjo, and to attach them in such a manner as to produce a better tone than when said parts are attached in the usual way.

To this end my invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciication, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure l is a broken plan view of a banjo constructed in accordance with my invention, and Fig. 2 a partial section of the saine on the line 2 2 of Fig. l.

The metal rim A, the neck B, and the head C are of the usual construction and need no detailed description. A hollowT metal hoop D extends around the rim A, said hoop having inwardly-curved edges D', with an inner openingbetween said edges, as shown. lVithin the hoop D is a wooden strip E, which is curved to lit nicely within the hoop, and is provided with acurved or oval upper edge E', upon which lits the curved upper edge D of the hoop D. Depending from the lower edge of the hoop D, and spaced regularly around the rim A, are the socket-pieces F, which are internally screw-threaded, and in which fit the screws a, which project upwardly through the enlarged lower portion A of the riin A.

To fasten the head C in position upon the riln A, the edges thereof are drawn over the upper edge of the rim A, and passed through the opening in the hoop D and around the wooden strip E, between the strip'and the hoop D. rlhe screws a are then tightened, thus drawing down the pieces F, forcing the upper edge D of the hook irmly upon the edge of the head C and drawing the head tightly over the metal rim A, so that it will rest against said rim, thus improving its tone. It will thus be seen that the head C may be tightened at any time by tightening the screws a.

The tail-piece H is formed in a triangular shape, as usual, with the base of the triangle toward the center of the head. It is provided with knobs b, formed thereon to assist in attaching the strings d, as described below, and with a shank I-I, which is bent in such a inanner that it extends down the outside of the rim A and clasps the lower enlarged edge thereof, the tail-piece and shank being held in position by the tension of the strings d and by the rib c of the shank I'I, which fits into a corresponding groove or recess e in the bottom of the rinl A. The shank II is provided with a rubber or felt covering J at the point where it bears upon the hoop D, which serves to deaden or prevent the vibration ot the strings being transmitted from the tailpiece.

The strings CZ are attached to the neck Bin the usual manner, and they are placed upon the tail-piece II and knobs l) in such a manner that the body of a string CZ will bind the end d thereof firmly against the tail-piece H, thus avoiding knots by which the strings are usually secured, and bringing the strings very close to the head C. The strings are wound upon the tail-piece upon each side of the knobs, and the knobs prevent them from sliping.

It will be found in practice that by attaching the parts in the manner described the tone of the banjo will be greatly improved.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a banjo, a tailpiece having a front crossbar provided with knobs, whereby the ends of the strings may be secured and held by friction. without tying knots, substantially as set forth.

2. In a banjo, an open tail-piece, the front cross-bar of which is provided with knobs, and an integral shank depending from the rear end of the tail-piece, the lower end of the IOD shank being bent forward parallel with the tail-piece and terminating in a'n upwardlyextending lug or rib, substantiallyas set forth.

3. The combination, with the head, of a tailpiece secured thereto at its rear end'and provided with a crossbar at its front end having a series of knobs, and strings passed at their rear ends around the knobs and under the cross-bar, each string binding its end upon said bar and holding it by frictional contact without tying, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a banjo rim and head, of a metal hoop surrounding the head and having its upper edge curved toward the rim, a Wooden ring under and over which the edge of the head isvfolded surrounding the rim within the hoop and having its upper edge curved to fit the curvature of the upper portion of the hoop and holding the head therein,

and the adjusting devices connecting the lower part of the hoop and the head, substantially as set forth. l

5. The combination, with the rim A and head C, of the hoop D, having curved edges D', the strip E, having curved upper edge E', and means, as threaded pieces F and screws a., for tightening said hoop and strip upon the head, substantially as described.

6. In a banjo, a head-adjusting hoop D, the upper and lower edges D of which are curved toward each other on the inner side of the hoop, a space being formed between said edges,

vsubstantially as set forth.

CHARLES J. KELLY.

Witnesses:

ALBERT HOWAETH, GEORGE W. IiJBBARnJ.A 

